Monday, July 27, 2015

The GOP tends to preach and practice intolerance, xenophobia, nationalism and anti-democratic values (i.e., voter suppression). In many ways, the GOP is anti-enlightenment, and embraces passion over reason. The dangerous denial of climate change and other scientific facts seems to come out of the corrupt alliance of anti-intellectual traditionalism and corporate influence (i.e., oil and gas).

Now, the fact of the matter is that fascism died in the mid-20th century. The GOP are obviously not fascists, but they share a family resemblance. As stated above, the base have many similar passions — traditionalism, nationalism, intolerance towards immigrants or minorities. They react with hostility towards the social progress of others and largely believe in a ‘survival of the fittest’ ideology.

Giovanni Gentile, the “philosopher of fascism” and ghostwriter for Mussolini, said of the definition of fascism in the Encyclopedia of Italiana: “Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.” This definition may very well fit the GOP ideology: a kind of corporate fascism, where large corporations have the ultimate power; where the politicians spew a hateful, intolerant ideology based on “traditional” values, on a platform funded by corporate interests, elected by the people to serve those very corporate interests; and deny environmental degradation because it would be unprofitable for the funders to do anything about it, using the anti-intellectual hostility to convince the people that it is nothing more than a left-wing conspiracy.

Quote: I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed
corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial
of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.-Thomas Jefferson, 1816, quoted in Lawrence Goodwyn, The Populist MomentDemocracy Incorporated: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism Sheldon S. Wolin, With a new preface by the author.

Democracy is struggling in America--by now this statement is almost cliché. But what if the country is no longer a democracy at all? In Democracy Incorporated, Sheldon Wolin considers the unthinkable: has America unwittingly morphed into a new and strange kind of political hybrid, one where economic and state powers are conjoined and virtually unbridled? Can the nation check its descent into what the author terms "inverted totalitarianism"?

Wolin portrays a country where citizens are politically uninterested and submissive--and where elites are eager to keep them that way. At best the nation has become a "managed democracy" where the public is shepherded, not sovereign. At worst it is a place where corporate power no longer answers to state controls. Wolin makes clear that today's America is in no way morally or politically comparable to totalitarian states like Nazi Germany, yet he warns that unchecked economic power risks verging on total power and has its own unnerving pathologies. Wolin examines the myths and mythmaking that justify today's politics, the quest for an ever-expanding economy, and the perverse attractions of an endless war on terror. He argues passionately that democracy's best hope lies in citizens themselves learning anew to exercise power at the local level.
Democracy Incorporated is one of the most worrying diagnoses of America's political ills to emerge in decades. It is sure to be a lightning rod for political debate for years to come.
In a new preface, Wolin describes how the Obama administration, despite promises of change, has left the underlying dynamics of managed democracy intact. Princeton Press.

Review:
"[A] comprehensive diagnosis of our failings as a democratic polity by one of our most seasoned and respected political philosophers. . . . Democracy Incorporated is a devastating critique of the contemporary government of the United States--including what has happened to it in recent years and what must be done if it is not to disappear into history along with its classic totalitarian predecessors."--Chalmers Johnson, Truthdig

"[Democracy Incorporated provides] a rare, chilling analysis of intellectual critics of democracy. If democracy means more than occasional elections and protection of those rights that are compatible with economic and political elites' interests, Wolin's analysis of our democratic predicament is shocking, solid, and fundamentally correct."--C. P. Waligorski, Choice

"Sheldon Wolin has produced an ambitious and broad-ranging book that examines the current state of democracy in America. . . . Wolin argues that the unquestioned faith in the virtues of free market capitalism has dramatically narrowed the range of policy options that are on the table when debate turns to resolving the US's ills. . . .[T]his is a trenchant and powerful volume."--Alex Waddan, International Affairs
"Of the many books I've read or skimmed in the past seven years that attempted to get inside the social and political debacles of the present, none has had the chilling clarity and historical discernment of Sheldon S. Wolin's Democracy Incorporated. Building on his fifty years as a political theorist and proponent of radical democracy, Wolin here extends his concern with the extinguishing of the political and its replacement by fraudulent simulations of democratic process."--Jonathan Crary, Artforum

"[W]e need to understand the deep roots of our present troubles ourselves and Wolin's book is an excellent beginning."--Toby Grace, Out in Jersey

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.Mahatma GandhiIntolerance is a form of violence against others. It is vicious and dangerous, born of hate, ignorance, racism and prejudice. It is the product of fear and a lack of compassion for our fellow man. It is not a Christian ethic nor is it an American ideal. It is anathema to what America is about, and those who engage in it, regardless of how they cloak it, are unchristian and un-American. They are deserving of our scorn. Unfortunately this is what the GOP has given birth to and encourages.

From Mlive.com; The following is an open letter by Grand Rapids attorney Jeffrey Mapes. Mapes posted the letter on his practice's website after news reports that a Grandville auto shop's owner wrote on the business's Facebook page that he would refuse service to openly gay customers.

Dear Dieseltec:

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Jeffrey Mapes, and I specialize in bankruptcy law -- helping individuals and corporations when things go wrong. I noticed your post on Facebook where you decided to alienate most of the general public by stating that you will refuse service to openly homosexual people. This is certainly an unorthodox business strategy, and perhaps it will work for you, but I get the feeling you will need a bankruptcy attorney pretty soon and I wanted to offer my services. Like you, I am white, male, Christian, a business owner, and a gun owner. Unlike you, I provide services to everyone regardless of their sexual orientation because it doesn't matter to me -- I hope this won't be a deal breaker for you.

If that upsets you, let me tell you a little bit more about our office to try and persuade you. The first thing you will notice is how friendly and compassionate the office staff is. Despite your inane, incoherent and just plain dumb comments, we know that everyone makes mistakes and we want to help you overcome them. They will also be more than willing to help you with some basic grammar that you seem to struggle with.

Jeffrey MapesCourtesy

If you still need more convincing, let me assure you that we will make certain that your bankruptcy petition is filed correctly and there are no errors. You stated in your post that you would incorrectly assemble a vehicle in order to prove a point. I want to let you know that despite the fact that I would love to prove a point to you about tolerance, I won't compromise my standards of quality to do so. After all, I have to look in the mirror at the end of the day and if I didn't do my best for everyone, I would have trouble sleeping. Perhaps you could give me pointers on how you sleep at night?

Just a few other housekeeping items. While I certainly don't encourage people to bring guns into my office, so long as you have the proper permit and handle it responsibly, you can bring your gun along. I would only ask that you refrain from menacingly stroking your weapon while you quietly sing David Allen Coe songs to yourself. I also think you have a deep and fundamental misunderstanding of the First Amendment and how it works, but that is a long discussion and we should save that for when we meet in person.

Well Dieseltec, I hope I've convinced you that Mapes Law Offices is the right place for you to file your bankruptcy. I would like to leave you with some words of inspiration from the dramatic film Billy Madison and I hope that you will take them to heart:

"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Another attack on the working poor and middle class. PELL grants offer an opportunity for upward mobility. Educated Americans get better jobs, make more money, pay more taxes and contribute to a stronger America. Thank you GOP. You can always trust the GOP to fuck the working class, the poor and minorities; which is what these cuts will do.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

“Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.”

-Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays

Rand Paul is running for president in 2015 to take back our country.
Take back our country. I love this phrase, because I know the code.
It is take it back our country from the black man in the white house, actually some like the N word. Take it back from anyone who is GLBT or tolerant of other peoples views or God hating atheist or evil people who support pro choice and anti-Americans who want sane gun laws. You would have to be anti-American to want sane gun laws. I mean if you want sane gun laws like background checks you are anti-American. Forget how many crazies buy guns and open fire on innocents. So lets take back our country. Take it back to the dark ages.

John Stewart from a few years ago. Nothing much has changes except some of the players.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Once
you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for
every kind of intolerance and religious persecution.William
Butler Yeats

Indiana just recently past the
“Religious
Freedom Reformation Act” (RFRA) bill. While the supporters of the
bill, the Republican state legislator and governor, claim it is not
meant to discriminate, that is surely what it does. Not only can
business discriminate against LGBT individuals or groups on religious
grounds they can refuse to serve people who's religious beliefs
differs from theirs; such as Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, etc.
They can discriminate against women and virtually anyone they deem
does not meet their religious litmus test.

The
conservative pundits have been running around trying to defend the
indefensible and doing a bad job of it. Arkansas has just passed a
similar bill in their Republican controlled legislator but the
Governor has refused to sign it after seeing the firestorm that broke
out over the Indiana bill, unless the wording is changed.

It
seems that the Republicans really do a great job of restricting
freedoms. The intent of the Federal RFRA Act was to allow minority
groups the same religious freedoms enjoyed the majorities. But these
state bills seemed designed to allow the majority to slam the
minorities not just the LGBT community.

“Religious
Freedom Reformation Act” (RFRA) bills. That name is an
Orwellian-attempt to use the same name as the federal law for a law
that does pretty much the opposite of the intentions of the federal
law; the federal law was meant to protect religious minorities, not
give the majority a club with which to beat minorities.” Sarah
Jones, Politics
USA

Under
the guise of religious freedom these, primarily GOP legislators, who
suck up to the evangelical right, have shown their intolerance and
unchristian character.

What
is wonderful is that they seem to have galvanized the American public
and woken up a sleeping giant. America is a majority Democratic
leaning country and acts like this only help decent Americans see the
true color of the radical right. A radical right owned by the Koch
bros. End Post

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

“Conservatism discards Prescription, shrinks from Principle, disavows
Progress; having rejected all respect for antiquity, it offers no
redress for the present, and makes no preparation for the future.”
~Benjamin Disraeli

It has been a long time since I have
posted to my blog. The truth is I felt overwhelmed by politics.
Seeing the daily injustices, lies and miscarriage of justice I just
decided not to think of it. But it never goes away. So after a long
hiatus I decided to get back to my rant. And rant I will. I
can't change anything or anybody’s opinion or mind, I can only
state my own frustration at the injustices of the world.

What has struck me is that after so
long a break from posting my blog nothing has changed, in fact things
may have gotten worse. The Gay Old Party (GOP) and FOX Phony News
are still at it. The crazies are running the asylum. So what has
been happening, it is almost laughable to see what people will put up
with, the list sounds crazy until you realize that it is what is
really happening.

Republicans, governors, state
legislators in red states, the senate, congress and the Koch brothers
and friends at FOX have been relentless in their assault on American
values and institutions in their attempt to transform it into their
own fiefdom. They don't want a Democracy, they want an oligarchy.

The issues such as voter
suppression are an attempt to restrict voters who would vote democratic, and
an attack on minorities and the poor. A cut in the food stamps
program which effect the poor and minorities. A cut in aid to
dependent children which effect the poor and minorities. An attack
on the Affordable Care Act which would effect millions of Americans.
An attempt to destroy Medicare. How else to pay for the tax cuts for
the rich. An attempt to dismantle Social Security which would effect
millions of seniors. In Indiana passing a law that virtually
legalizes discrimination based on sexual preference or status. No
matter how they try to phrase it is legalizing discrimination. These
are just some of the issues of the day.

There remains issues such as climate
change which the GOP says isn't happening, which I find amazingly stupid. Other concerns is
the Republicans war on illegal aliens, who if they were all deported today
would put America into a depression. And a seemingly insane push for war by the GOP with Iran while undermining the American
president while he attempts to negotiate a treaty. The issues are
many and varied and they attack what America is about. So I am back
for what its worth. I will rant on. We have an up coming presidential election
with a menagerie
of wacko Republican hopefuls which should add some spice to the issues. The Loony Tunes are about to begin folks, so
strike up the band and let the craziness begin. There is more to come.

Background

I earned my BA Degree at Queens College CUNY, in Political Science, and MA from College of Staten Island CUNY, in Liberal Studies. PhM in Metaphysics, studying the Egyptian Mystery school and its effect on western thinking. My other interest are masonic history, western civilization, specifically ancient Rome through the renaissance. My other pursuit is Shotokan Karate, an interest that has consumed beginning in 1960. I hold a 8 degree black belt in Shotokan Karate from the World Traditional Karate Organization, WTKO. www.wtko.org I hold a 3rd degree in Iaido, Japanese sword art including a variety of martial arts weapons and close combat techniques.